When they were first released to the market 15 or so years ago, Encore Azaleas promised to be the next great thing for your garden. After all, who wouldn't want an Azalea that blooms more often than just spring?

Our experience with these Azaleas in the last couple of years has proven to be positive, even though in the Pacific Northwest, they don't re-bloom as much as they would, say, in the southern US. With that said, they are still a fabulous plant for our temperate climate.

There are 29 varieties to choose from and of these, we currently stock the following:

Azalea 'Autumn Empress'

Azalea x 'conles'

This Encore Azalea variety has dense dark green foliage that contrasts nicely with the medium, semi-double pink bloom. While nice as a specimen plant, it also makes an excellent foundation plant. Grows 4ft high by 3ft high. Foliage takes on a bronze hue in winter.

Azalea 'Autumn Embers'

Azalea x 'conleb'

Autumn Embers is one of the most popular varieties of Encore Azalea. It features deep orange-red semi-double blooms on mid to dark green foliage. Grows 3ft tall by 3.5ft wide.

Azalea 'Autumn Angel'

Azalea x 'robleg'

One of the newest introductions to the Encore Azalea line, Autumn Angel features pure white flowers that appear irridescent in the morning light. The combinations of the stark, single white blooms and the glossy deep green foliage make it a wonderful addition to any garden. Grows 3ft tall by 3ft wide.

Azalea 'Autumn Royalty'

Azalea x 'conlec'

A robust upright variety with deep green foliage and large rich, single, purple blooms. 'Autumn Royalty' was voted Azalea of the year by the American Rhododendron society. Grows 4.5ft high and 4ft wide.

Growing Encore Azaleas

All Encore Azaleas perform best in part sun to part shade, although they will tolerate more sun if kept slightly moister. You will also get more blooms if the plant can get at least 4-6 hours of sunlight a day. A moist, well drained, acidic soil is best. Deadhead spent flowers. Fertilize with a Rhodo & Azalea food in early spring. Do not fertilize after August. Most Encore Azaleas are hardy in USDA zones 6-9. In the Pacific Northwest, they should be fine in winter, although they will benefit from some protection during extreme cold spells.

Five Cool and Unusual Rhododendrons

These beauties are somewhat harder to find and are not always in stock. If you're looking for something just a little bit out of the ordinary, here are five cool and unusual Rhododendrons worth planting:

Rhododendron pseudochrysanthemum

This tiny little Rhodo with the deep green ‘tough as nails’ leaves with a red underside grows 1foot by 1 foot in 10 years.

It is compact looking a bit like a hedgehog. It gets pale pink to white flowers mid spring. A great little variety in a rockery or a pot.

Rhodendron raecemosum ‘Rock Rose’

This variety has a very interesting form with very upright reddish pink stems with small somewhat curled leaves with a white underside.

The fresh bright pink flowers in March and April add another dimension of light an depth to this plant. A worthwhile addition for colour, form and texture it is on my own ‘want’ list.

Grows 3 feet by 3 feet in 10 years.

Rhododendron campylogynum

A lovely deceptively delicate looking little variety from Tibet. Individual soft violet pink flowers which emerge in April and May hang upside down like prayer bells .

The small oval leaves are a deep rich green and are aromatic, the new leaves open a glossy grass green.

This little plant gets to about 2 ½ feet by 2 ½ feet in 10 years.

Rhododendron ‘Honey Butter’

Wow! This one produces huge trusses of buttery orange flowers with pink midribs in May. It is not a subtle rhodo, this one explodes with enthusiasm!

The new growth comes on a burgundy red colour followed by rich green clean new growth.

The height is 5 feet by 5 feet in 10 years.

Rhododendron ‘Cherry Cheescake’

The flowers are bourne in large clusters and are a very tropical looking white with cherry red edging and speckled blotch.

It is a larger growing rhodo reaching 5 feet by 5 feet in 10 years with lovely long fresh green leaves.

These and many other Rhododendrons are available at Arts Nursery year round. Best selection available between March and June. Please call ahead to confirm availability of specific varieties.

Laurelle's Favourite Rhododendrons - Part One

With a plant group as large and diverse as Rhododendrons, its sometimes hard to figure out where to start. In this post, I've decided to list a few of my favourite Rhododendrons, 5 tried and true classics. Part Two of this series will be posted in a couple of days - so check back soon!

So without further ado ... let's showcase a few of my favourites!

Rhodendron ‘Teddy Bear’

This a great little compact Rhodo with bubblegum pink buds opening to a soft pinky white in mid April. It is a Yakushimanum hybrid and has the fuzzy undersides to the leaves in what else but teddy bear brown of course. It grows to about 3 feet by 3 feet in 10 years.

Rhodendron ‘GartinDirecktor Glocker’

This Rhodo is a real eyecatcher from the fuschia buds which open to rose pink blooms with darker edges in May to the bronzy young foliage to the deep green glossy mature foliage. ‘Gartindirector Glocker’ is an asset to a garden at any time of year. It has a tidy mounding habit to about 2 ½ to 3 feet in 10 years.

Rhododendron ‘Dora Amateis’

You didn’t think I would do a Rhodo piece with out Dora did you? Icy pale pink buds…lots of them, open to breathtaking white softly scented blooms in April. As with many white blossoms they will show weather damage easily so when Dora is in bloom take a bit of time and enjoy the show while you have it. Another tidy plant will grow 3 feet by 3 feet in 10 years.

Rhododendron 'Baden Baden'

It’s the stubby little leaves with a twist that I love so much about this variety. They are a deep rich green and have a fascinating little habit that makes this variety one of the ones I can identify at 20 paces bloom or no bloom. The blooms are a waxy bright cherry red and cover this fat little plant. It tends to grow wider rather than tall...a bit like me. Growing to 2 feet in height by 3 feet wide at the 10year mark.

Rhododendron 'Nancy Evans'

I love this plant for the ‘change-up’ pitch it throws. Deep orangy red buds open to bright yellow blossoms late April early May. I planted a grouping of Nancy Evans for one friend after the blossoms were done. She called me the following April to say I’d planted the wrong colour as I told her it was a butter yellow Rhodo. I chuckled and said to call me in a week. She phoned back in a week laughing! ‘Nancy Evans’ grows to about 5 feet by 5 feet in 10 years.

Rhododendron Planting & Care

Rhododendrons are best planted in part shade. Most will tolerant a significant amount of sun if the soil is kept on the moist side. A location that is moist, but well drained is preferred. Rhododendrons also like an acidic soil. Avoid using bonemeal when planting. Instead use a liquid transplant fertilizer to encourage rooting. Prune after flowering if required. Deadheading spent flowers is also recommended. Rhododendrons are shallow rooted so avoid cultivating near them. Apply a Rhododendron fertilizer once a year before flowering. If you have any other questions about Rhododendrons, please do not hesitate to call or visit us. We stock hundreds of varieties in many sizes with the best selection being available in spring as new stock arrives.

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Art's Nursery is a 10+ acre retail and wholesale garden centre located in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We've been in business at this same location since 1973 and we're proud to serve you today!

We carry an incredible selection of plants, shrubs, trees, annuals, perennials, vines, groundcovers, roses and much more. Soils, bulk materials, pottery and a variety of garden accents are also available.

Our plant selection is so large that you can actually drive a golf cart while you shop!

We pride ourselves on providing high quality plant, expert advice and an exceptional gardening experience.